Ugly Roots

[mmursuli]

My neighbor gave me yet another orchid. This one is a phal. The tag says Phal. Linnet but I can't find anything on the net pertaining to that name. Well, when I unpotted her this is what I found. I wanted to put her in s/h, but do you guys think that's wise considering the condition of her roots? There's also a keiki growing (no roots yet). HELP! What are her chances?


photobucket is on the fritz again, so I'll try posting the other two pics in a few.

[mmursuli]

[mmursuli]

[PaphMadMan]

I think the chances are good. It doesn't look too badly dehydrated so the roots it has are getting it by. Remove any dead roots, treat any cuts with cinnamon, and go ahead with the s/h if that's what is successful for you with Phals. Extra humidity for a while if you can. Leave the keiki in place, maybe it will grow roots even if the mother doesn't make it.

I can't help you much with the name. There are 3 Phals registered with Linnet in the name. Dtps. Lioulin Linnet, Phal. Auspice Linnet and Phal. Paiho Linnet. Do you have any idea what the flowers look like? Is it a typical large Phal?

BTW, since orchid means testicle, I maintain that all orchids are him, not her.

[mmursuli]

Orchid means testicle?!! LMAO! LMAO!
Thanks for the help. All she told me was that the blooms are "purple-ish" and that they are small...

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by mmursuli

Orchid means testicle?!! LMAO! LMAO!

orchid

"Word History
Date of Origin 19th c.
Greek órkhis [όρχις orchis] meant ‘testicle’ (a sense preserved in English orchitis ‘inflammation of the testicles’ (18th c.)). The tuberous roots of the orchid supposedly resemble testicles (hence the old dialect name ballock’s-grass for various sorts of wild orchid), and so the plant was named órkhis. The Latin form orchis was taken by botanists of the 16th and 17th centuries as the basis for the plant’s scientific name (they smuggled an inauthentic d into it, under the mistaken impression that its stem form was orchid-), and it passed from there into English."
orchid - word origin, history, and etymology

[mmursuli]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

orchid

"Word History
Date of Origin 19th c.
Greek órkhis [όρχις orchis] meant ‘testicle’ (a sense preserved in English orchitis ‘inflammation of the testicles’ (18th c.)). The tuberous roots of the orchid supposedly resemble testicles (hence the old dialect name ballock’s-grass for various sorts of wild orchid), and so the plant was named órkhis. The Latin form orchis was taken by botanists of the 16th and 17th centuries as the basis for the plant’s scientific name (they smuggled an inauthentic d into it, under the mistaken impression that its stem form was orchid-), and it passed from there into English."
orchid - word origin, history, and etymology

I love learning interesting little tidbits like that. Thank you!

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by mmursuli

I love learning interesting little tidbits like that. Thank you!

orchids are never boring - that's for sure!

[nenella]

IMHO... I would not put this orchid into S/H... Ray has drummed it into us that s/h will reallly work when there is new growth. I do not see any new growth on your roots...
I would give it some rooting hormone and then.... well depends on your conditions :
alot of people believe in sphag and bag.... amongst other things...
I'd wait to see what other people in your growing region have to say. One thing for sure is that i believe your orchid looks more than 'saveable'...but it may take a while to get back into optimum flowering condition. ....Patience is a virtue!

[Ray]

Frankly, the plant is going to need to grow new roots no matter how you grow it, so S/H is as good as anything.

One caveat - put it on a heat pad no matter how you pot it up, as that will accelerate new root growth.